President Paul Kagame has warned public officials who deliberately create obstacles for investors in order to demand bribes, saying such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The President made the remarks on Friday, July 17, 2026, during a Political Bureau meeting of the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) held at Intare Arena, where he discussed the importance of responsible leadership, good governance, and creating a favourable environment for development.
President Kagame said public officials and investors should work together to address challenges instead of leaders using their positions to delay projects or seek personal benefits.
He questioned whether officials genuinely help investors solve problems or intentionally keep them waiting in the hope that they will offer money to receive services.
he said: “Someone who wants to invest comes to you, and you discuss and resolve the issue? Or do you put them on hold and tell them to wait, hoping that while waiting they will figure out how to sort you out? It exists today; it happens,”
Muhazi Investor Case Highlighted
President Kagame referred to a case involving a foreign investor who faced difficulties while developing activities on the shores of Lake Muhazi.
He explained that the investor had built a house and wanted to establish a place where boats could be docked, but a local official blocked the project.
According to Kagame, the official initially claimed that such a development was impossible, but it later became clear that the official was seeking a bribe before granting approval.
Kagame said: “Regarding Muhazi, I hope that issue has been resolved. Someone involved in development activities on the water had built a house. He is a foreigner seeking to invest. He puts boats on the water and wants to build a place where they can be docked. The local official said, ‘No! You cannot do that.’ The matter continued like that, but it later emerged that he wanted the investor to first give him something before granting permission,” .
Corruption Is an Unacceptable Offence
President Kagame warned that officials who engage in such practices should understand that deliberately frustrating citizens or investors in order to obtain illegal payments is a serious offence.
He said such behaviour goes against the principles of the RPF-Inkotanyi and contradicts Rwanda’s vision of building effective and accountable institutions.
he said: “If there are officials sitting here who will act like that or are already doing so, know that it is an offence for which, once we discover it, we should not even forgive you. It is unacceptable. It is not in line with the RPF, nor with the new political direction of the country we are building and want to build,” .
Leaders Urged to Address Small Issues Before They Grow
President Kagame urged leaders to pay attention to even seemingly small problems affecting citizens and investors, saying such issues can create a negative environment and damage trust in public institutions.
He called on officials to ensure that services are delivered fairly, efficiently, and without corruption.
The President emphasized that Rwanda’s development depends on leaders who support investment, solve problems quickly, and place national interests above personal gains.
